Weatherspoon sustained the injury while rehabbing a knee problem that required surgery and limited the 2010 first-round pick to just seven games a season ago.

"During Sean's run today with our medical staff, he suffered an injury," said Falcons head coach Mike Smith in a statement. "We sent Sean to the doctor for some additional testing and evaluation and unfortunately the results showed that he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Sean had been working extremely hard to get back on the field, but regrettably he will miss the entire 2014 season.

"He will have a procedure done in the near future and we expect him to make a full recovery."

Weatherspoon has started 36 games over the last three seasons, but has missed 12 due to injury over the last two. The 26-year-old has accumulated 290 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions and 15 passes defensed over 47 career contests, all with the Falcons.